Pubdate: Sat, 08 May 2004
Source: Daily News, The (LA)
Copyright: 2004 The Daily News
Contact:  http://news.mywebpal.com/index.cfm?pnpid=786&om=0
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1331
Author: Marcelle Hanemann

TACKLING OUR DRUG PROBLEM

BOGALUSA - At least 95 percent of the autopsies performed on Washington 
Parish residents who are under 40 years of age show that the deaths were 
drug-related, Coroner Roger Casama told the many dignitaries, parents and 
other concerned citizens in attendance at a Coroner's Town Meeting last night.

Casama vowed to reinvigorate his own efforts to help stem the substance 
abuse problem through education, awareness and prevention programs. He 
praised law enforcement and other local efforts. And he asked for total 
community support. As the old adage goes, he said, "it takes a village" to 
raise a child.

Several officials and organizations promised support.

And Casama laid out some of his plans. One involves the establishment of a 
Coroner's Task Force Against Addictive Disorders board to formulate a 
program to educate and rehabilitate abusers in a facility built for that 
purpose, educate parents and children of the effects of abuse, obtain 
grants and donations, create a program similar to Neighborhood Watch or 
Drug Watch in the parish, establish a social detoxification program, 
research successful programs from other states and countries, coordinate a 
volunteer effort for the cause and lobby local, state and federal bodies.

Casama also said he would like to bring the Jefferson Parish Coroner's 
Office "Empathy and Awareness Program" to Washington Parish if local 
judges, parents and others agree. That program is offered to juvenile 
offenders 12 to 17 years of age who are ordered by the court to take part 
in lieu of serving jail time.

Charlene Lauricella, of that office, explained the program to those in 
attendance and said it has been largely successful. The young participants 
are first screened for mental health.

Those who are accepted see a sometimes-graphic slide presentation of what 
can happen as a result of even minor dabbling with alcohol or drugs, and 
stories of local incidents are included in the narration to help 
personalize the message.

The program also includes speakers, and ends with a trip to the morgue and 
their presence, for about five minutes, at an actual autopsy.

The powerful three-year-old program has reportedly been featured on 
national news broadcasts. And Lauricella said that grants that could help 
fund the program are available through the Juvenile Justice Department.

Numerous speakers also addressed the relationships between substance abuse, 
crime and mental health, and the need for additional programs in all areas. 
Casama urged everyone to get involved to help fill the needs.

Edward Ratcliff invited everyone to attend the May 25 meeting of the 
Washington Parish Commission on Human Services. The meeting will be a forum 
for the Florida Parishes Human Services Authority, the recently-created 
state funding agent for such services and programs.

The idea is to identify the gaps in local services and to fill them, said 
Ratcliff.

The meeting will take place at the YWCA at 10 a.m.
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